Combined flush and self-framing ventilating louver



1960 A. L. SIMBLEST 2,956,496

COMBINED FLUSH AND SELF-FRAMING VENTILATING LOUVER Filed Sept. 25, 1957 FIG. 3

INVENTOR ALLEN L. SIMBLEST BY CORBETEYMAHONEY, MILLER 8- RAMBO,

7? ATTORNEYS United States Patent COMBINED FLUSH AND SELF-FRAMING VENTILATIN G LOUVER Allen L. Simblest, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Harris, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 686,150

2 Claims. (Cl. 98121) My invention relates to a ventilating louver. It has to do, more specifically, with a ventilating louver or grille formed of sheet metal such as aluminum.

Ventilating louvers for openings in buildings have in years past commonly been made and sold in two general types, namely, the flush type for old construction and the self-framing or recess type for new construction. On the flush type there is a peripheral flange at the outer edge of the louver frame which overlaps the edge of the opening at the outer face of the building wall. On the recess type there is a peripheral flange intermediate the inner and outer edges of the louver which is disposed in a recess in a building wall as it is 'built around the louver or is covered by the final facing of a frame wall, such as by lap-siding, paneling, etc. Obviously, it would be desirable to overcome the necessity of manufacturing, stocking, and supplying two general types of louvers. The structure disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,752,844 overcomes this difficulty, but the present invention provides an improved louver structure, whereby it .is possible to provide a single louver structure which is devoid of adjustable movable parts and which is capable of use as either a flush-type louver, or a self-framing-type of louver.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a ventilating louver of relatively simplified construction which may be used either as a flushtype louver in connection with existing wall structures, or as a se1f-frarning-type louver in connection with the erection of a new lall structure.

Another object is to provide a combination ventilating louver of this character which includes means for supporting and maintaining an insect-excluding screen at the inner face of the louver when the latter is used either as a flush-type louver, or as a self-framingtype louver.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a louver formed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a medial, vertical sectional view taken through the present louver and an associated building wall and illustrating a flush arrangement.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the louver arranged in self-framing position.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken through one corner of the louver and showing an edge of the screen and the associated retainin-g flange provided on the frame of the louver.

With reference to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a complete louver made according to my invention. The louver consists of the channel frame which may be of rectangular or square form. The frame supports the usual transverse slats 11 which are inclined downwardly and outwardly relative to the outer face of the louver,

the slats being formed with end tabs 11b which are riv-' cted, or otherwise suitably secured, to the frame as. at 11a. The longitudinal edges of the slats 11 are bent upwardly and downwardly respectively to occupy vertical planes spaced inwardly from the opposite open faces of the frame 10.

To support the frame in an opening in a building wall, I provide the outwardly directed peripheral flange 12 which is secured to and extends completely around the frame 10 on all sides thereof. This flange is of generally L-shaped cross section and is so disposed relative to the inner and outer faces of the frame 10 that the flange can be used as an attaching means either with an existing wall construction, as shown in Figure 2,' or in the erection of a new wall construction, as illustrated in Figure 3. For this purpose, the flange is secured to the frame 10 at a point spaced very slightly inwardly from one face and substantially inwardly from the other'face.

The frame 10 is formed at its opposite open faces with inwardly turned flanges 13 and 14 which, respectively, extend around three sides of the opposite faces of the frame to define, with the vertical longitudinal edges of the slats 11, a downwardly opening screen-receivin'g'c-hannel 13a and an upwardly opening screen-receiving channel 14a, as viewed in Figure 2. Removably positioned in the upwardly opening channel 14w on the rearward face of the frame, is in insect-excluding screen member composed of a rectangular screen mesh body 15 having a marginal edge-reinforcing and rigidifyin-g frame 16. As will be noted by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the portions of the frame 10, adjacent the open ends of the channels 13a and 14a, are slightly foreshortened and are turned inwardly of the frame to provide lips 13b and 14b which abut against the upper and lower slats 11. a As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, it is desirable, if not necessary, that the louver slats 11 be arranged so as to slant generally downwardly toward the outer surface of the associated building wall, in order to prevent rain water from entering the building structure by way of the ventilator-receiving opening formed in the wall structure. At the same time, the insect-excluding screen member should be positioned rearwardly of the slat members so as to be protected against puncture or tearing by objects coming into contact with the outer wall surface adjacent the ventilator. Thus, where it is desired to use the present ventilating louver in an existing and completed wall structure, that is, where a flush-type ventilator is desired, a suitable opening 0 is formed through the wall structure which usually comprises an inner finish layer or surface 17, an intermediate structural layer 18 and an outer or exterior surface layer or veneer 19. The area size of the opening closely approximates the size of the frame 10 of the louver so as to snugly receive the latter, as shown in Figure 2. In this instance, the peripheral mounting flange 12 of the louver overlies the exterior paneling or veneer 19 of the building wall and the louver is securely fastened to the wall structure by means of nails, or other suitable fasteners 20, driven through the flange 12 and into the wall structure. In the installation shown in Fig. 2, the int-urned channel-forming flanges 13 project only slightly beyond the outer wall surface and hence are substantially flush therewith.

When it is desired to employ the present ventilating louver as a self-framing louver, which is installed at the time the associated wall structure is being built, the position of the louver is merely reversed and inverted from that shown in Fig. 2, so that the parts will be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In the self-framing position, the mounting flange 12 is disposed inwardly of the wall structure and is secured to the intermediate structural layer 18 of the wall and is covered by the outer veneer orpaneling 19. As will be understood, in shifting the position of the louver between flush (Fig. 2) and self-framing (Fig. 3) positions, the screen member 15 is removed from the channel 14a and placed in the channel 13a, in order that such screen member will always occupy a position at the rearward face of the louver.

In View of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present single ventilating louver construction eliminates the necessity for building suppliers stocking two different types and constructions of louvers as has been the practice heretofore, in order to provide both flush and self-framing types. At the same time, the present louver constitutes an improvement on the adjustable-type louver disclosed in my prior US. Patent No. 2,752,844 in eliminating the need for relatively slidable and adjustable frame parts and the attendant complexities and expen'se of manufacture.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described in what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A combination flush and self-framing" type ventilating louver comprising a generally rectangular and annular box-like frame adapted to occupy a substantially vertical position within an opening formed in a building wall, said frame being formed with oppositely disposed, open, rectangular faces and inwardly turned flanges extending around three sides of each of said faces and defining a screen-receiving channel at each face of said frame, said screen-receiving channels opening, respectively, at the upper and lower ends of said frame; a plurality of relatively vertically spaced and inclined slats carried transversely within the boundaries of said frame;

a generally vertically arranged peripheral mounting flange rigidly secured to said frame and extending outwardly from the four sides thereof,said mounting flange being disposed in a plane spaced inwardly from both open faces of said frame, but being disposed closer to one face of said frame than the other; and a screen removably positioned within the screen-receiving channel which opens at the upper end of said frame.

2. A combination flush and self-framing type ventilating louver comprising an annular rectangular, open-faced frame including a pair of vertically spaced, substantially flat end members and a pair of transversely spaced, substantially flat side members, the side and end members of said frame being formed along their edges with inwardly turned flanges defining a pair of screenreceiving channels disposed respectively adjacent each of the open faces of said frame, each of said channels opening respectively at opposite ends of said frame to receive therein an insect-excluding screen; a peripheral mounting flange rigidly secured to and extending outwardly from the side and end members of said frame, said mounting flange being disposed in a plane spaced only slightly inwardly from one of the open faces of the frame and closely adjacent one of said screen-receiving channels; a plurality of relatively spaced parallel, vertically inclined slats extending transversely between and connected with the side members of said frame, said slats having longitudinal edges terminating inwardly of the screenreceiving channels of said frame; and a rectangular screen removably carried within one of the screen-receiving channels of said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,590 Thomas et al. Aug. 7, 1900 1,659,786 Sammet Feb. 21, 1928 2,309,717 Siebenlist Feb. 2, 1943 2,340,570 Siebenlist Feb. 1, 1944 ,752,844 Simblest July 3, 1956 

